Rail joint

ABSTRACT

A rail joint having a base plate channel-shaped in cross section to receive the base flanges of the rails and a fish plate substantially triangular in cross section with the vertical wall thereof abutting the web of the rails and with a horizontal wall positioned upon the base flange of the rails within the channel provided by the base plate, the fish plate having formed integral therewith substantially triangularly shaped partitions reinforcing the vertical and base wall of the fish plate, the fish plate being bolted to the web of the rails and the base plate being connected by one or more clips to the rails.

United States Patent Nelson 51 Apr. 25, 1972 RAIL JOINT 1,113,127 10/1914 Lamb ..238/2l3 [72] Inventor: Permil N. Nelson, PO. Box 507, jknderson 238/2?- Galesburg, [IL 61401 ansa [22] Filed: June 22, 1970 Primary ExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [21] Appl' 48202 Attorney-Edward C. Threedy [52] U.S. Cl ..238/15l, 238/187, 238/209, ABSTRACT [51] I t C] A rail joint having a base plate channel-shaped in cross section 1 to receive the base flanges ofthe rails and a fish plate Substam [58] Field of Search ..238/210-217, 187-200,

238/160 208 237 151 209 243 tlally triangular in cross section with the vertical wall thereof abutting the web of the rails and with a horizontal wall positioned upon the base flange of the rails within the channel pro- [56] References cued vided by the base plate, the fish plate having formed integral UNITED STATES p therewith substantially triangularly shaped partitions reinforcing the vertical and base wall of the fish plate, the fish plate 469,178 2/1892 Stacy ..238/210 being l d to h b f th rail and the base plate being 947,825 1/1910 Krueger ..238/210 Connected by one or more Clips to the rails 887,488 5/1908 Malik et a1 ...238/213 1,307,885 6/1919 Rutishauser ..238/208 1 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 25 me INVENTOR. PM/L A ewo/v J15 AI'Jv/aA/H.

RAIL JOINT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to accomplish the result of strengthening the connection between abutting ends of rails and to reinforce the rails at their abutting ends to withstand and resist the stress and strain imposed thereon by heavy loads imposed upon the rails. Such heavy loads frequently have caused the fish plates and their connections to the rails to become loose, distorted, or otherwise rendered to a condition which could ultimately have disastrous results.

The invention consists of a combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention applied to adjacent abutting end portions of rails;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fish plate embodied in the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective fragmentary view similar to that shown in FIG. I, but illustrating a modified form of constructron.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive, conventional rails are indicated at and 11, which rails are arranged with their ends in abutting relation with respect to each other, providing a joint 12. Each of the rails 10 and 11 includes a head or tread portion 13, a base flange l4, and a connecting web 15, the web 15 integrally connecting the head 10 with the base flange I4. My improved rail joint provides a relatively flat base plate 16 which is substantially triangular in cross section to provide oppositely disposed vertically extending flanges I7. Within the channel 18 provided by this base plate is mounted the base flange 14 of the rails 10 and 11. The flanges 17 are of a height so as to extend a suitable distance above the long edges of the base plate.

A fish plate is generally indicated at 19 (there being one on each of the vertical sides or webs 15 of the rails 10 and 11) and comprises a vertical wall 20 which abuts against the adjacent surface of the web 15, and a'horizontal wall 21 which rests upon the adjacent portion of the base flange 14. The fish plate 19 is substantially triangular in cross section and includes spaced triangularly shaped webs 22 which extend from the connecting web 15 of the rail to the adjacent portion of the base flange 14. The upper long edge 20' of the fish plate 19 is substantially circular in cross section to provide a reinforcing bead and when the plate 19 is mounted in position as shown, this edge 20' snugly bears against the curved point ofjunction between the head 13 and web 15 of the rail.

In use, there is one fish plate located on each side of the web 15, and these plates are secured to such web by a plurality of nut-bearing bolts 23.

The base plate 16 and the fish plates 19 are connected to the rail tie 24 by one or more clips 25 bolted as at 26 to the tie and having channel-shaped clamping fingers 27 which fit over the adjacent upstanding flange 17.

A construction of the foregoing description will be highly efficient for its intended purpose and obviously is economical in manufacture and in application.

The form illustrated in FIG. 4 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 1, with the exception that the base plate 16 is omitted and instead of using clips such as 25 as the attaching means, .there is formed as an integral part of the horizontal wall 21 of the fish plate 19 a lug 28 offset downwardly so as to have contact as at 29 with the rail tie 24 and fastened thereto by a bolt 30 or the like.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the sco e of the appended claims.

avmg thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved rail joint for connecting the abutting end portions of rails together comprising a. an elongated relatively flat base plate substantially channel-shaped in cross section, in which the base flanges of the abutting portions of the rails are positioned,

b. a fish plate mounted in the channel of the base plate against the web of the rail and upon the base plate and comprising a plurality of integral triangularly shaped vertically extending webs extending laterally from the web of the rail to the base flange,

. bolt means for attaching the fish plate to the abutting end portions of the rails,

d. and one or more clips secured to a tie supporting the rails and having open hook-shaped ends disposed in hooked engagement with the adjacent flange of said base plate.

. said fish plate providing a longitudinally extending top edge circular in cross section extending above and supported by said triangularly shaped webs against the head of the rail when said fish plate is placed on said rail within said flat base plate.

I l IIK l 

1. An improved rail joint for connecting the abutting end portions of rails together comprising a. an elongated relatively flat base plate substantially channel-shaped in cross section, in which the base flanges of the abutting portions of the rails are positioned, b. a fish plate mounted in the channel of the base plate against the web of the rail and upon the base plate and comprising a plurality of integral triangularly shaped vertically extending webs extending laterally from the web of the rail to the base flange, c. bolt means for attaching the fish plate to the abutting end portions of the rails, d. and one or more clips secured to a tie supporting the rails and having open hook-shaped ends disposed in hooked engagement with the adjacent flange of said base plate. e. said fish plate providing a longitudinally extending top edge circular in cross section extending above and supported by said triangularly shaped webs against the head of the rail when said fish plate is placed on said rail within said flat base plate. 